video, mid-october

[wolfcut]

Is this thing — how does —

[ Let there be video of one sorry looking rat holding his pearl as far away from himself as possible. Somehow, he looks even more disheveled than usual, with eyebags practically to the floor.

Those who recognize him might also notice his fur is looking extra wispy today. Perhaps even a bit see-through? That’s different, isn’t it? ]

Okay. Okay. Does... does anyone know Sleep Powder? [ There’s some unbecoming desperation in his voice. He’s just asking for a friend here. ] Yawn, maybe? Or — fuck, what — Spore?

[ Anyone with a keen-eye will likely note that he’s also not at the Spire, but the Archives. Lum Berries are more than welcome to bump into (pass through?) their new rodent problem if they so wish. ]

And no, a punch to the head won’t work.

[ Ghosts are immune to Fighting-type moves, as it turns out. ]

Comments

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[edgewater]

[ parvati's not entirely gotten used to the whole grumpearl thing yet. granted, it's not wholly dissimilar to the way long-distance comms work via radio in halcyon, but she's never had one of her own to operate. ]

Wow, you look awful. [ that kind of lets slip before she gets the chance to think about it, since she's currently multitasking with drawing up schematics for a filtration system that's covered in very sprat-scratchy handwriting and arrows pointing every which way. ] You sure a big ol' hit with a hammer won't? Mr, uh, Bigby? Was it?

[ or a large amount of booze, she doesn't say, because frankly that sort of advice is more becoming of nyoka than it is of her. ] That's you, right?

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[hundredeyesoni]

[Do the effects of Yawn work across the grumpearls the same way the natural phenomenon can? It's time to find out!]

Like that?

I don't mind heading over if it doesn't kick in, but I'd like you to consider checking in at the clinic as well...

[wolfcut]

You should see the other guy.

[ That doesn't really make sense, but he's just. Half checked out of this conversation already. ]

Yeah, who fucking else? [ Grumpy! ] ... But you know what? I'm willing to try anything at this point. Preferably hammer and booze.

[ He might've heard that thought come through and assumed she said it. Welcome to the network, Parvati. ]

[wolfcut]

[ Of course the good doctor is here to save the day! He yawns right on back.

Just, you know, a normal one. ]

Hn. I don't think— [ Wait a minute, what is he thinking. This is Akira. ] Actually, I'm starting to feel something.

[ He's not. ]

[edgewater]

[ oh shit is that what that does-- ] Well I was just making sure, you don't gotta be like that...

Dunno where I'd get the booze... Where're you at right now? I can come in a-- [ she's already moving to roll up her stuff and tuck it under her arm, grabbing her hammer ] --sec.

[wolfcut]

[ Have some low growling in response. No, he really doesn't, but sleep deprivation manifests in funny ways. He rubs his face, and nearly drops his pearl in the process. ]

Library—Archives. Some hallway. I don't know.

[ Should he go back to Perrin's place, maybe? Even if his roommates were starting to look at him funny with all those teeth of theirs. ]

... I already have the booze. Somewhere. [ He does not sound like he thought Parvati was being serious. ]

[edgewater]

I mean, in my experience, it might make it a little less painful on your end. [ "in my experience" actually again being her crewmates' experience but whatever.

as she's talking, she's realised she can just leave her work where she is -- it might be a bit more noticeable that she's also currently at perrin's place. the hisuian arcanine in particular is visible in the background of her video for about half a second, since she's walking around with grumpearl in hand. ]

I'll work it out and be there as soon as I can, uh. [ she's no squinting down at the grumpearl to try and work out where he is as if she'd have any way of knowing. ] Yeah. Maybe I've got it.

[wolfcut]

Wait, that's— [ A squint. He brings the pearl closer to his face.

Yeah. That's one of them alright. ] You're at Six's place?

[ They must've just missed each other. Or maybe he's been in these halls longer than he thought. Bigby's honestly been losing track of time the past few days. ]

Let's just... meet halfway. You're still new here right?

[ Like he actually knows the Archives that well to begin with either. ]

[edgewater]

Huh? Oh, yeah-- he's been letting me sleep on the couch. [ most of her not-sleeping time's been spent helping out with quests or figuring out how she can feasibly fix the spire's flooding problem with sticks and stones, but today's been a drawing board type of day. ]

Yep, only arrived last month. I can meet you halfway. [ bigby can probably feel her distinct lack of confidence in her ability to find him, though. she's finally out the door. ] Surely there's somewhere open. I'm probably easy enough to spot, anyroad.

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[cedricthegreat]

[It's really a stroke of luck that he figured out how this pearl he was given works - but finally, something around here that does make sense to him. Pokémon? Class of creature with its own set of strange rules. Moves? Somehow not Mystic Isle magic. But an orb that can project your thoughts and help you see others? Now you're speaking his language.

But of course, the first thing he sees in his own crystal ball- er, pearl, is the face of the rodent who helped him when he first got here, looking absolutely terrible, and the surge of guilt he felt at the end of their quest returns. Yes, this at least confirms that Bigby's not dead like he originally feared, but he was also hoping next time he saw him he would be... more opaque.]

Bigby, I am so sorry I led you astray with those pesky ghosts. Oh, if I only had my wand, then I could give a slumber spell for your insomnia.

(1/2)

[wolfcut]

Cedric...

[ Something about hearing the other’s voice... His fur, wispy and translucent, suddenly begins to bristle. As his face turns a deathly pale, the image on the pearl begins to blur, until he’s almost too hard to make out on the other end.

There’s no sound, but through the static, a pair of eyes stare back, blood red and locked right on Cedric’s. ]

(2/2)

[wolfcut]

[ Then, a yawn, and suddenly the image is back to how it was, as if nothing happened at all. Ghost/Dark sure is a funny typing! ]

It’s... you’re fine. I shouldn’t have assumed. [ You know what they say. ] I don’t even know how magic would work around here anyway.

[ They should not be talking about that so brazenly on an open network, but whatever. He’s too tired to be a rule enforcer. ]

[wolfcut]

[ His ears droop at the mention of sleep. One can only imagine what it must feel like, to not be Wired but Tired two times over. ]

Yeah, easy enough. [ Only for him to suddenly realize he's going the wrong way. He makes an abrupt pivot. ] This place can't be worse than the Spire...

[ Horrible organizational practices aside. ] I didn't go too far. I think. No stairs that I remember. [ Granted, his memory is shit right now, so. ]

[edgewater]

[ parvati's making her way around, looking every which way to try and gain her bearings on the place. ] You'd hope not.

[ that's about as much commentary as she offers to begin with, more focused on where she's going. come on, parvati, the lower levels of the groundbreaker are about as complicated as this and you learned those quickly! come on! ] How'd you get all the way in there anyway?

[wolfcut]

[ A slow blink, and then: ] ... I don't remember. [ He never thought sleep deprivation could hit this hard. Mundies really do have it rough. ]

I've just been wandering since I left Pe—Six's.

[ Speaking of, if she's been hanging around the apartment long enough, he could try to pick up Perrin's scent off her. That might be easier than whatever this is. ]

You have to make a turn somewhere. I think the second hallway to your... right? No, left.

[edgewater]

[ she's probably backtracked about six times now because she's gone the wrong way. just like home. ]

Well if you've been out there long enough that'd explain us missing each other. [ she makes the left, awkwardly glancing down at the grumpearl. ] You sure you want me to hit you that hard? In the middle of... yknow. [ she cocks her head to the side slightly as she says this. ]

[wolfcut]

In the middle of what?

[ He scrunches his face down at his pearl, completely oblvious to the Rhydon about to step on him up ahead. Luckily, their stomps pass right on through him instead, none the wiser. Almost instantly he stops to shudder, fur puffing.

Oh, he gets it now. Maybe. ]

There's... there's study rooms around. We can find an empty one.

[edgewater]

[ oh yeah neither of them have thought this through at all. ]

Well I need to find you before we can do anything. See anything that sticks out? [ like her hammer maybe--

she's regretting leaving her schematics behind a little now, but no matter. this is more important in the current moment. ]

video --> action

[wolfcut]

... Right. Not yet.

[ Leaping before he looks. Isn't that just the way. He brushes back some of his fur before continuing. At least this time he's keeping his head up, scanning the hallways for any semblance of a pink creature with too big a hammer.

But really, he's just following his nose on this one. A few turns, a few grumbles, and finally he spots her from behind. ]

See? I was close enough. [ Don't think about how long that probably took. He cuts the connection on approach. ] Where did you even get that thing?

[edgewater]

No idea. It was next to me when I woke up. [ she adjusts it on her shoulder. ] Perfect for me, though. I'm the best at smashing stuff with hammers. Or so my Captain says.

[ parvati stretches out with her free arm. ] Soo, do you want me to just-- [ she steps back a little, and mimics hitting with her free hand. ] Like that?

[wolfcut]

... Hm. [ This place is nothing if not on the nose. Either way, it's a lot bigger than he thought. He takes a small step back, paws raised. ] Not out here, remember?

[ He motions for her to follow instead. ] Think I hid a bottle in one of these, actually.

[ He pokes his head into a few rooms as they pass, finally stopping at an empty one. ] Look good to you? [ He says, as if they're going to actually study and not bash his head in. ]

[edgewater]

Oh, crap. You're right. [ it's not like the two of you were walking around in circles for like forty minutes or anything, that boggles the brain! even for parvati.

she follows after him anyway, though. ] Heh, maybe that's the booze you're needing.

[ she peers into the final room they come to. ] Should be, unless you like. Scream real loud and implicate me for murder. Don't do that.

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[quirkynote]

Of course a punch to the head wouldn't work... Merely being unconscious isn't the same as sleeping... That aside, your skull is so small and frail, it'd be more likely to lead to certain death...

[That was Science with A.B.A™.

Still, she seems rather concerned. Bigby had a tough time during the Froslass fiasco, is he still upset about that? Or...no, he looks stranger for some reason. Stranger than usual. ...Wait, that IS the Archives!!]

...Ah, I see... You haven't been partaking in the communal sleeping arrangement I've worked so tirelessly to achieve... No wonder you're exhausted.

1/2

[cedricthegreat]

[He feels a shiver course through his feathers - he'd seen Bigby with similar eyes as they fended off the ghosts, but it's another story when it's directed at him. His entire form seems to droop in place, even the "brim" on his head, as his own guilt threatens to overwhelm him.]

2/2

[cedricthegreat]

[...And then the rodent shifts back, like he didn't just present Cedric with the face of death, and insists he's fine. If only he himself could believe it. But he attempts full composure nevertheless, using the subject of magic as an anchor.]

With a fine wand and the correct incantation, I suspect it would work about the same. There are potions, after all, and they serve the same purpose as what I know. [For the most part - no one's provided an ingredients list yet, but he'll find a way...]